ANALYZING
BOLTS AT THE BYE, FROM A TO F

Hopefully, this report card won’t require me to apologize to anyone, unlike that golf analyst who had to ask Tiger Woods for forgiveness.

Of course, I don’t accuse anyone of cheating. (Imagine that, by the way, thinking Woods would be fast and loose with rules.)

I do believe Mike McCoy and his staff are guilty of some sleight of hand to even have the Chargers at 4-3.

And for that, I bestow on them the first grade herein.

A resounding, solid, absolute “A.”

McCoy is still learning, most evidenced by his gaffes in deciding on his game-day roster.

But the man believes with an enviable confidence in what he’s doing. And as much as we’ve had fun with his mantra about the players having “bought in,” it is clear that they have.

Ken Whisenhunt probably won’t be an offensive coordinator for long, and quarterbacks coach Frank Reich will probably be one before long. Defensive coordinator John Pagano is doing what the best coordinators do — getting results out of a unit light on talent. Linebackers coach Joe Barry is a teacher and a motivator, and he deserves another shot at being a coordinator.

As for the players, who on Wednesday left for a four-day bye-week break, here are their marks through seven games.

Quarterback

AI’ve never seen Philip Rivers this comfortable. That cannot be separated from the fact that he’s second in the NFL in passer rating and touchdowns and first in completion percentage. Plus, with every game, this young team loves him more.

Running back

ADanny Woodhead was the best free-agent acquisition by the Chargers and maybe by any team. Ryan Mathews is being graded on the curve. He entered the season with five 100-yard games and now has run for 102 and 110 in successive weeks. He also had never before made it to the eighth game of a season without being injured.

Wide receiver

AWhat this group has done — and what the coaches and Rivers have done with it — is just as impressive as the resilience on the offensive line. Danario Alexander was lost for the season in August and Malcom Floyd in Week 2 — and the Chargers might be better for it. Honestly, Keenan Allen and Vincent Brown are here to stay. Eddie Royal has more touchdowns (six) than he had in the previous four seasons combined.

Tight end

A-Antonio Gates, at 33, is playing like he’s 30 again. He’s playing a lot, too. John Phillips is enough of a blocker, and Ladarius Green will eventually get a chance to show how much of a weapon he can be.

Offensive line

B+You thought it couldn’t get worse than what they’d been through the last two seasons. And then … The Chargers have used 11 different players on the line over the last five games. It would be difficult to ask for more from this hearty collection. But the line is greatly helped by Rivers getting rid of the ball quicker, on average, than all but two QBs in the league this season. Still, the linemen are doing their job there, and the run blocking is much improved.

Defensive line

CThis grade has been brought up (from failing) over the last three weeks. Corey Liuget is right on the verge of being virtually unstoppable.

Linebacker

CWho are these guys? No Melvin Ingram. No Dwight Freeney. Donald Butler and Jarret Johnson have contributed only when healthy. Rookie Manti Te’o missed three games and then had to almost immediately assume a leadership role on the field. Andrew Gachkar stepped off the special teams unit to start. Thomas Keiser, promoted from the practice squad, had two sacks last week. Larry English is playing more and better. The group has, at times, been a liability, but Pagano and Barry are squeezing all they can out of it.

Cornerback

FAmong the 107 cornerbacks who have played at least a quarter of their team’s defensive snaps, the Chargers have four of the worst 19, according to Pro Football Focus. Derek Cox appears to be settling in, but the Chargers’ most expensive free agent has been good for one big burn a game, and he’s one of multiple Chargers defensive backs who apparently went to the Antonio Cromartie School of Tackling.

Safety

ABecause Eric Weddle is a superhero.

Special teams

BSo much better of late. The only two field goals missed by Nick Novak have been blocked.